Houston has won five of their last six
Javier impresses again, Astros shutout Mariners for another win
Apr 27, 2021, 9:52 pm
Cristian Javier continues to impress in 2021. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Cristian Javier continues to impress in 2021.
After starting this four-game series with a win in the opener Monday night, the Astros tried to continue their recent momentum to take game two on Tuesday night with Cristian Javier on the mound and their full-powered lineup back intact. They would get a great start from Javier and enough offense to back him up, resulting in the win.
Final Score: Astros 2, Mariners 0
Astros' Record: 12-11, fourth in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Cristian Javier (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Marco Gonzales (1-3)
Javier impresses again
Cristian Javier once again impressed on the mound, similar to his last start, but this time going deeper into the game. He would allow just two hits, a single in the top of the first and double in the fourth, along with three walks, otherwise holding the Mariners at bay and off the board for seven complete innings, earning him a quality start. His final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 107 P.
17 consecutive scoreless innings. ☕️#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/PZrIR6LEkt
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 28, 2021
Houston gets their fifth win in six games
That would put Javier in line for the win, thanks to his offense getting a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth. After being held without a hit to that point, Michael Brantley led off with a single, moved to third on a double by Alex Bregman, then scored on a sac fly by Yordan Alvarez. Bregman would later score on an RBI infield single by Kyle tucker, giving Houston the 2-0 lead they would hold through Javier's start.
Brooks Raley would take over in the top of the eighth, posting a 1-2-3 inning with a couple of strikeouts to maintain the two-run lead. Still 2-0 in the top of the ninth, Ryan Pressly would come in to attempt his third save of the season. He would convert it, improving Houston to 5-1 over their last six and giving them a chance to lock up a series win on Wednesday.
Up Next: Game three of this series will be another 7:10 PM start on Wednesday. Zack Greinke (2-1, 2.76 ERA) will try to get his third win of the season for the Astros, going opposite of Justin Dunn (1-0, 3.68 ERA) for the Mariners.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
As we embark on another week waiting to hear which team Alex Bregman will land on, there are some new developments to discuss regarding the potential makeup of the 2025 roster.
First, it appears that Jose Altuve will get some opportunities to play left field, whether Bregman returns or not. The Athletic's Chandler Rome recently reported that the Astros were planning on playing Jorge Polanco in the infield, if they had signed him.
But the Mariners outbid the Astros, and Polanco is headed back to Seattle. Polanco's value on the market was more than the Astros anticipated in my opinion, and the team wasn't content with going past the first tax threshold in order to sign him.
Another news item that broke over the weekend was the Tigers signing of pitcher Jack Flaherty. Many were wondering if that deal would preclude Detroit from signing Bregman. But according to reports, the Flaherty contract won't impact their decision on Bregman.
What about the Cubs?
Reports indicate the Cubs are serious about adding Bregman, but they also suggest there is some concern that a 6-year deal without any opt-outs could prevent the Cubs from signing Kyle Tucker long-term. Would Breggy roll the dice on signing a deal Chicago could void after one season?
Jeff Bagwell speaks about Bregman
For those wondering if the Astros will up their offer to Alex, I think we got our answer. Baggy basically said the team gave Alex their “best offer,” and it's on him to go shop it.
On the farm
Keith Law of The Athletic recently posted his list of the best minor league systems. To no one's surprise, the Astros are near the bottom of the list coming in at 29th out of 30 teams, and they only have one Top 100 prospect (Cam Smith). Only the Angels are ranked lower (30th), but it is worth noting that the Braves system (Houston GM Dana Brown's former organization) came in right in front of Houston at number 28.
I only say that to point out that Brown was brought in from Atlanta for his scouting ability, and the Braves having seemingly fallen off when it comes to minor league talent. No fault of Brown's, but worth noting.
Houston's dearth of talent in the minors is the main reason this offseason is so crucial if they want to continue their winning ways. They can't count on any help coming from the farm, and the outfield is already a huge concern.
Finally, Bleacher Report shared their offseason grades last week, and they gave Houston a D. Based on the amount of talent that left this offseason, it's hard to argue with their assessment. Ryan Pressly, Kyle Tucker, Justin Verlander, Yusei Kikuchi, and Bregman (the Astros have maintained re-signing him is a “long shot.” )
There's no way around it. That's a lot to overcome. But it doesn't mean they can't win the division as presently constructed.
We have way more to get to! Be sure to watch the video above for the full discussion!
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!
https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise